Autonomous container ship

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns an autonomous container ship comprising a hull, a propulsion system, loading and unloading systems for loading and unloading containers, and a balancing system. The ship transports containers from larger ports equipped with facilities for loading and unloading containers to smaller ports which may not provide such equipment and may be less than 4 meters deep. The ship includes a propulsion system to propel the ship to cruising speed on the high seas and at lower speeds in estuaries and ports, loading and unloading systems adapted to ports not provided with appropriate equipment, and a balancing system for balancing the ship at sea by providing stability and trim during container handling operations.

The invention relates to an autonomous container ship for carryingcontainers from large ports equipped with loading and unloading means tosmall ports lacking such equipment.

In particular, the invention relates to a range of small andmedium-sized ships that can carry merchandise from one small port toanother in containers.

This range is composed of ships able to transport a maximum number ofcontainers equal to two, four, ten, twenty, thirty, fifty, and ahundred.

A principal feature of the ship is its full autonomy, enabling it toload and/or unload containers in a port not equipped with handling meansand having a water depth of less than 4 meters.

The transport of goods is indeed one of the mainsprings of our marketeconomy.

The globalization of international trade, the development of “just intime” policies, and the increasing demand for responsiveness arecontinuously fostering the growth of land transport with development ofcostly highway infrastructures harmful to the environment.

The range of ships according to the invention arose from this view withthe concern of developing complementarity between highway transport andsea/river transport.

The goal is to provide sea links to serve a multitude of irrigationports that have been exploited little or not at all for goods transport.

The goal is for highway container carriers to load goods from theseports for local distribution to optimize land delivery distances.

One of the objectives of the present invention is to provide truckingcompanies with a mobile “sea/river superhighway” infrastructure matchingthe land superhighway system.

A second objective is to increase the responsiveness of sea-landtransportation by shipping small quantities at frequent intervals.

A third objective is to provide river/sea service with substantialindependence of maneuver, an optimized dock-to-dock path, andunloading/loading systems matching these constraints. This objectiveimplies being able to carry a payload which is large relative to thedisplacement of the ship.

A fourth objective is to provide transportation under service andmileage conditions comparable to those of highways.

Numerous container ships with a large container-carrying capacity anddeep draft exists such as those described in Jane's IntermodalTransportation, pages 315, 338, and 341. One example of theselarge-capacity container ships is the ALLANCA BRASIL with a capacity of2200 containers, a speed of 20.4 knots, a length of 200.23 m, and adraft of 12.0 m. One of the smallest of these container ships is theHERA with a capacity of 198 containers, a speed of 12.5 knots, a lengthof 88 m, and a draft of 4.6 m.

These container ships generally unload in ports equipped with heavyhandling equipment. Ports able to receive existing container ships arefew in number and cannot deliver goods close to their utilization sites.

To meet the above-defined objectives, the invention relates to anautonomous container ship of the type having a keel, propulsion means,container loading and unloading means, and balancing means,characterized in that it has means for carrying containers from largeports equipped with container loading and unloading means to small portslacking such equipment and having a water depth less than 4 meters, saidmeans including propulsion means that allow the ship to sail at cruisingspeed at sea and at estuary and port speeds, loading and unloading meansadapted to these ports lacking equipment, and means for balancing theship at sea serving to stabilize and trim the ship during handling.

This ship is moreover characterized by having propulsion means thatensure maneuverability in ports.

In addition, the ship according to the invention enables a large payloadrelative to its displacement to be carried. This goal is achieved byequipment providing a common power supply for propulsion and handling,and handling means usable both on board and on land.

The range of ships according to the invention comprises ships able tocarry 2, 4, 10, 20, 30, 50, and 100 containers.

The containers are in two sizes:

20-foot containers (6.058×2.438×2.591 meters);

40-foot containers (12.116×2.438×2.591 meters).

The tonnage of the ship range according to the invention is listed inthe table below:

Number of containers 2 4 10 20 30 50 100 Overall 25 35 48 65 74 88 111Length (m) Tonnage (t) 100 200 500 1000 1500 2500 5000

These ships are designed on identical architectural principles. They canhence be built from modules.

These principles can be chosen for the keel, for the propulsion system,for handling the containers, and for balancing the ship.

The keel can be of the single-hulled type.

According to one embodiment, it can be of the beacher type, i.e. thetype of ship able to unload cargo onto a gently sloping bank or onto abeach.

According to one preferred embodiment, it can be of the catamaran typeor mixed type (single-hulled at the bow and catamaran at the stern) orof the tunnel-hulled type.

Propulsion can be provided by diesel or drive shaft plus propellers.

It can also be provided by an active rudder.

According to one embodiment, propulsion is provided by hydrojet.

According to another embodiment, propulsion is provided by pumpjetPropulsion can also be provided by a device known as “voith”manufacturedby the Voith-Schneider Company.

Propulsion can also be provided by a device known as “PODazimutaux”manufactured by the Schottel Company.

The propulsion means can be driven by a diesel engine, by an electricmotor, or by a discoid engine.

The containers can be handled by a crane, a portal crane, a lift truck,or a container transporter.

The ship balancing means may be comprised of pumped ballasting systemensuring displacement of water in the ship from ballast to ballast toadjust trim or roll.

The balancing means can be comprised of an inflatable float system;these inflatable floats can be built into the side of the ship toincrease float inertia and thus limit rolling and pitching duringhandling operations.

The balancing means can also be comprised of a solid-weight transfersystem. A solid weight moves in the ship to offset shifting containerweights during handling operations.

A combination of these various characteristics leads to a designprinciple for the range of ships.

In addition, it must be possible to build the ship at a cost offeringinvestors an alternative to highway transportation.

With this in mind, the technological solutions leading to economicallyviable solutions must have the following characteristics.

The ship must enable a large payload relative to its displacement to becarried.

The equipment must be as versatile as possible, implying a common powersupply for propulsion and handling, handling means that can be used bothon board and on land, propulsion means allowing the ship to sail atcruising speed and at estuary and port speeds, and maneuverability inports, with the means that balance the ship at sea also serving tobalance it during handling operations.

The range of ships according to the invention has autonomy in thefollowing areas:

navigation: slow and rapid propulsion and means of navigation at sea,

crew quarters: facilities enabling a crew of 3 to 5 individuals to livefor several days on board,

handling: handling means enabling the ship to load and unload containersin unequipped ports,

balancing: a balancing system ensures transverse stability and trim ofthe ship when sailing and during container handling operations.

The attached drawings show preferred embodiments of te invention.

FIG. 2 is a lengthwise section through a ship according to the inventionof the single-hulled type equipped with a crane.

FIG. 1 is a top view of a ship according to the invention of the beachertype with an unloading ramp at the bow.

FIG. 3 is a lengthwise section through a ship according to the inventionof the beacher type equipped with a ramp at the stern.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a ship according to the invention of thebeacher type equipped with a ramp at the stem.

FIG. 2 illustrates a ship according to the invention having:

a keel 1 of the single-hulled type,

a crane 2,

containers 3,

a propulsion system with propellers 4.

The ship shown has a keel of the single-hulled type defmed aboveenabling it to sail at between 15 and 20 knots.

The power necessary for operation is provided by a diesel generator.

The propulsion means are comprised of an electric motor, drive shaft,and propellers 4.

The container loading and unloading operations are carried out with acrane 2 mounted at the stem of the ship.

The ship is balanced by ballasting. The roll of the ship is constantlycontrolled during handling operations by a pump system.

The ship shown has the following characteristics:

overall length: 65 m

width: 11 m

displacement at full load: 1100 t

draft: 4 m

number of containers: 20

maximum speed: 17-21 knots

FIG. 1 is a top view of the ship in FIG. 1 showing crane 2 mounted atthe stern.

FIG. 3 illustrates a ship according to the invention comprising:

a keel flat at bilge 5 for beaching,

a lift truck 6,

an unloading ramp 7 at the bow

containers 3,

a propulsion system 4.

The ship shown has a keel flat at bilge 5 allowing a cruising speed of10 to 12 knots and beaching, i.e. mooring at a gently-sloping bank or ata beach.

The ship can be beached at the bow with stern propulsion.

According to one variant, the ship can be beached at the stern with bowpropulsion.

The necessary power is supplied by a diesel generator.

The propulsion means are diesel, drive shaft, and propellers 4.

The handling operations are carried out with the aid of a lift truck 6and unloading, by a ramp 7 onto a beach or boat ramp.

The ship is balanced by ballasting.

The ship shown has the following characteristics:

overall length: 50 m

width: 10 m

displacement at full load: 900 t

draft: 2.1m

number of containers: 20

maximum speed: 10-12 knots

A preferred variant consists of loading and unloading the containers bya stern ramp, in which case the propulsion means are at the bow and thekeel is more streamlined, thus improving navigation.

The trim of the ship is balanced by ballasts filled with water by pumps.

FIG. 4 shows a ship according to the invention comprising:

a keel flat at bilge 5 for beaching,

a self-propelled portal crane 8

a stem loading ramp 9,

containers 3

pumpjet propulsion means not shown.

The ship shown has a flat keel 5 for beaching and a cruising speedbetween

Beaching can take place at the bow with stern propulsion or at the sternwith bow propulsion.

The necessary power is supplied by a diesel generator or diesel-electricgenerator.

Propulsion is provided by pumpjets.

Handling is provided by a self-propelled portal crane 8 and unloading,by a ramp 9 at the stern.

The ship is balanced by a pump and ballast system.

The ship shown has the following characteristics:

overall length: 65 m

width: 11 m

displacement at fillI load: 1000 t

draft: 2.9 m

number of containers: 20

maximum speed: 18-20 knots

What is claimed is:
 1. A container ship, comprising: a keel and apropulsion system exhibiting a draft not greater than four meters; anon-board cargo handling system configured to handle containers insidethe ship and outside the ship for loading and unloading the containers;and a balancing system for balancing the ship during sailing andstabilizing and trimming the ship during handling, wherein the cargohandling system comprises at least one part movable above and outsidethe keel.
 2. The container ship of claim 1, wherein the propulsionsystem enables the ship to maneuver in a port.
 3. The container ship ofclaim 1, wherein the ship contains a common power supply for both thepropulsion and cargo handling systems.
 4. The container ship of claim 1,wherein the keel is of a single-hulled type.
 5. The container ship ofclaim 1, wherein the keel is of a beacher type.
 6. The container ship ofclaim 1, wherein the keel is of a catamaran type.
 7. The container shipof claim 1, wherein the keel is of a mixed type, the mixed type having asingle-hulled keel at the ship's bow and a catamaran keel at the ship'sstern.
 8. The container ship of claim 1, further comprising a dieselgenerator for providing power.
 9. The container ship of claim 1, whereinthe propulsion system comprises at least one diesel engine, at least onedrive shaft, and at least one propeller.
 10. The container ship ofclaims 1, wherein the propulsion system comprises at least one of ahydrojet, a pumpjet, a voith and multiorientable propellers.
 11. Thecontainer ship of claim 1, wherein the balancing system comprises apumped ballast system.
 12. The container ship of claim 1, wherein thebalancing system comprises an inflatable float system.
 13. The containership of claim 1, wherein the balancing system comprises a solid weighttransfer system.
 14. The container ship of claim 1, wherein the cargohandling system includes at least one crane supported on the keel. 15.The container ship according to claim 1, wherein the cargo handlingsystem comprises a crane mounted to the ship and capable of movingcontainers between the ship and the shore.
 16. A container ship,comprising: a keel of a catamaran type and a propulsion systemexhibiting a draft not greater than four meters; an on-board cargohandling system configured to handle containers inside the ship andoutside the ship for loading and unloading containers; and a balancingsystem integral to the ship for balancing the ship during sailing andstabilizing and trimming the ship during handling.
 17. A container ship,comprising: a propulsion system for propelling the ship; a cargohandling system for loading and unloading cargo containers from theship, the cargo handling system carried on-board the ship and isextendible outside the ship to load and unload the cargo containersbetween ship and shore; and a balancing system integral to the ship forbalancing the ship at sea and stabilizing and trimming the ship duringcargo handling, wherein a draft of the ship, including the propulsionsystem at least partly extending below the bottom of the ship hull isless than four meters.
 18. The container ship according to claim 17,wherein the hull is a catamaran type hull.
 19. A container ship,comprising: a keel and a propulsion system exhibiting a draft notgreater than four meters; an on-board cargo handling system configuredto handle containers inside the ship and outside the ship for loadingand unloading the containers; and a balancing system for balancing theship during sailing and stabilizing and trimming the ship duringhandling, wherein the balancing system comprises an inflatable floatsystem disposed within a hull of the ship.